European Kobe beef inports to start again

May 17, 2014

EU to begin imports of Kobe beef in June

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201405170039

By SHINICHI MISHIMA/ Staff Writer

The European Union will allow imports of Japan's famed "wagyu" beef, including the hugely popular Kobe beef, in June, according to sources.

Wagyu is a type of beef that comes from any of the four specific strains of Japanese cattle acclaimed for their tender meat. Japan's health and farm ministries had been negotiating with the EU on exports of wagyu beef to Europe since 2005.

After approval of imports by the EU in February 2013, three meat packing plants located in Gunma and Kagoshima prefectures retrofitted their equipment to meet European safety standards. Having the revised equipment accepted by the EU, the first facility is expected to start exporting wagyu beef to Europe as early as June 9, the sources said.

The agreement will be made official by the end of this month, as long as there are no objections from Japan or Europe.

One of the types of wagyu beef to be exported is Kobe beef, considered a delicacy around the globe for its tenderness and fatty, marbled texture.

Because the beef only comes from a pure Tajima strain of wagyu cattle raised in Hyogo Prefecture that has met the criteria set by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association, it was only exported for the first time in 2012 to Macao, Hong Kong and the United States. The limited population of the cattle was also a factor, with only about 4,000 or so processed in a year.

Distributors expect to export Kobe beef from 300 cattle annually to Europe after the processing plant in Kagoshima begins exports on June 24.

Although 100 grams of Kobe beef sirloin costs about 3,000 to 5,000 yen ($29.55 to $49.25) in Japan, the prices in the EU may rise above 10,000 yen due to the popularity of Japanese food, according to some European meat packers.